Don’t take freedom of religion for granted

I share Pastor Carl Baker’s concern for the safety of Christians living in Mosul. I have always believed in religious freedom and tolerance. Unfortunately, the Islamic State takes an opposite view. As a result, we are seeing an example of religious intolerance run amuck. It ain’t pretty.

It is important to point out that the Islamic State is not singling our Christians for persecution. They are fundamentalist Sunni Muslims that are hostile not only to Shia Muslims, but also Sunni that do not share their extreme views. Additionally, members of the Yazidi faith, an amalgam of Shia and Sufi Islam, Christianity, Gnosticism and Zoroastrianism, are also having a very difficult time of it.

Clearly, the Islamic State is hatefully intolerant of any faith tradition that differs from their own. Indeed, I doubt that Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Atheists, Wiccans, Satanists and the like would jump for joy with the news that the Islamic State was about to take over their country.

One of the many things that is great about the USA is that we have the right to practice our faith traditions without interference from the government or anyone whose faith traditions differ from our own. It is what prevents, as Pastor Baker wrote, “a knock on your door. You open it and findheavily armed menconvertpay a taxleaveface immediate execution.”

I think it is important to remember how lucky we are to live in America. To keep in mind that when someone expresses any belief that is different from one’s own, they probably aren’t attacking you, they are only disagreeing with you. Disagreeing is OK. I imagine Pastor Baker disagrees with me on matters of faith. However, I expect we both agree on an ethic of reciprocity, a rule that is often described as golden.

The Eastern Panhandle is a long way from Iraq. The Journal has a faith section, and Pastor Baker had an article he wrote published in that section. I expect this letter will also find its way into The Journal.

I think that if we all respect each other’s faith traditions, America will not become a theocracy where one faith tradition rides herd over all the others.